the regulation concerning the rights of people with reduced mobility
travelling by air;

the regulation on the identity of the operating
carrier

1. Are disabled people really discriminated in terms of access to
flights?

The Commission has no exact and comparative data that could demonstrate the
extent to which disabled people or people with reduced mobility are subject to
discrimination. Many companies and airports already makegood efforts to make
sure such discrimination does not occur.

However, evidence provided by the associations of persons with reduced
mobility and national court cases clearly show that some disabled people can
suffer from unfair treatment in terms of access to air transport. This is
unacceptable. Today’s regulation foresees a high level of protection for
all people in need of assistance when travelling.

The fact that a number of operators already have in place a system to
accommodate people with reduced mobility also means that today’s proposal
will not put a huge extra cost on the air transport sector.

Today’s regulation also foresees the creation of independent bodies to
deal with complaints. This will give people with reduced mobility a chance to
settle disputes out of court, in a speedy and non-costly manner. It will improve
the protection of their rights vis-à-vis recalcitrant companies.

2. The case of the Flash Airlines on its way to Paris as explained in your
press release was known to the Swiss authorities. So does the new regulation
apply to Switzerland ?

Switzerland has a bilateral aviation agreement with the EU. Through this
agreement, Switzerland applies all EU legislation regarding air transport. The
regulation adopted today will also apply to Switzerland once the Swiss
authorities have included it in the bilateral aviation agreement with the
EU.

3. How does the regulation on the identity of the carrier improve the
information flow between Member States? How come such information flow does not
exist already?

The information flow exists already. Since 30 April 2004, Member States have
already the obligation to exchange information on the safety record of third
country operators that use EU airports. This obligation is contained in the
directive 2004/36. The information on safety records is centralised at EU level.
The Commission will make an annual report which will be available to the
public.

The Commission can also propose to a committee of Member States that thet
extend a prohibition for a company to land or take off that applies in one or
more Member States to the whole of the EU territory. In addition, the recent
creation of the European Air Safety Agency has marked a cornerstone in the
uniform application of safety requirements to all aeronautical products.

Today’s regulation adds two elements to the above, namely the right of
each passenger to know the identity of his/her operating carrier and the
obligation for Member States to publish a list of all air carriers that are
banned from its airspace or which are subject to traffic rights restrictions for
safety reasons. Based on information from the Member States, the Commission will
also publish a consolidated list of these operators. Today’s regulation
increases safety through a transparency mechanism that involves the
passenger.

4. What will happen in international bus and maritime transport ?

Experience shows that a multiplication of national rules is not the most
effective way to protect the rights of international passengers. This is why the
Commission is announcing today new measures to increase passenger rights in
international bus and maritime transport. The Commission will study whether
legislation or other measures would be the most effective way to better protect
passengers on these form of transport, notably against cancellations,
overbooking and delays. The Commission notes that some maritime companies
already provide solutions on a voluntary basis. The Commission will also examine
how to better protect the rights of passengers with reduced mobility in maritime
and international bus transport.